Hair-setting roller device with load distributing combs



Dec. 19, 1967 F. w. BLANCHARD 3,358,698

HAIR-SETTING ROLLER DEVICE WITH LOAD DISTRIBUTING COMBS Filed July 28, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 19, 19.67 F. w. BLANCHARD HAIR-SETTING ROLLER DEVICE WITH LOAD DISTRIBUTING COMBS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 28, 1954 in -a5 55% m/mwrae 24m min mm? /7- rag/u? United States Patent C 3,358,698 HAIR-SETTING ROLLER DEVICE WITH LOAD DISTRIBUTING COMBS Floyd W. Blanchard, 2334 Loma Vista Place, Los Augeles, Calif. 90039 Filed July 28, 1964, Ser. No. 385,618 2 Claims. (Cl. 132-40) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In setting hair with rollers, a semi-cylindrical clamp member having a comb formed integrally therewith is used for each roller. The clamp member holds the roller and the coil of hair wound thereon and the comb distributes the force exerted by the roller uniformly over the head. The teeth on one comb overlap the rear edge of the comb in an adjacent row. The comb is arcuate along its major axis and the individual teeth are arcuate along their major axes.

The present invention rel-ates to hair-setting appliance means, and more particularly to new and useful means for minimizing the discomfort experienced by users of hairsetting appliances.

It is customary for a good many women to set their hair before retiring for the night. Hair-setting appliances of various types are used for this purpose and these h-airsetting appliances have the disadvantage of being very uncomfortable to sleep on.

Many prior art hair-setting appliances include cylindrical rollers upon which strips of hair of the user of the appliance are rolled to form coils closely adjacent the head of the user. When the user reclines for the night, each roller makes a relatively fine, line-contact with the head of the user. Thus, the force exerted on the users head by the roller is concentrated in a relatively narrow area, resulting in the disadvantage that discomfort experienced by the user of the hair-setting appliances is increased.

Other types of prior art hair-setting appliances are subject to this same disadvantage. Another disadvantage with some prior art rollers resides in the fact that the rollers sag, resulting in a loosening of the coil as the hair dries.

In view of the foregoing factors and conditions characteristic of prior art hair-setting appliances, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a new and useful hair-setting appliance means not subject to the disadvantages enumerated above and having means especially designed for minimizing the discomfort experienced by a user of the hair-setting appliance means efliciently, safely, and expeditiously.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide new and useful hair-setting appliance means for spread ing the force exerted on the head of the user by hair curlers over a major portion of the area of the head underlying the curlers.

Still another object of the present invention is to pro vide a new and useful neck pad engageable with the nape of the neck of a user of the neck pad to lessen the pressure exerted on the head of the user by hair-setting appliances.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved hair net.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful hair-setting appliance.

Another object of the present invention is to provide new and useful comb means which is positionable under hair-setting appliances to distribute the load exerted on the head of a user of the appliances over a major portion of the area underlying the appliances.

According to the present invention, apparatus for 3,358,698 Patented Dec. 19, 1967 minimizing the discomfort experienced by a user of hairsetting appliances is provided.

In one form of the invention, the apparatus comprises an arcuate neck pad engageable with the nape of the neck of the user of the apparatus to lessen the pressure exerted on the head of the user by conventional hair-setting appliances.

According to another form of the invention, the neck pad is combined with a hair net.

In still another form of the invention, the neck pad is combined with a comb which is shaped to fit the rear portion of the head of the user of the apparatus. The comb is positionable under a plurality of hair curlers to distribute the force exerted thereby.

In still other forms of the invention, combs of various types and shapes are used in combination with conventional hair curlers and hair curlers of the present invention.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like elements in the several views.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, with parts broken away to show internal construction, of a number of the hair-setting appliance means of the present invention in position on the head of a user of the means of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical, along line 22 of FIGURE 1;

' FIGURE 3 is an exploded, perspective view of one of the hair-setting appliance means shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 3 showing the hair-setting appliance means in position on the head of a user of the appliance means;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 taken along line 55 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is an elevational view of the hair-setting appliance means shown in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a transverse, cross-sectional view of another form of a hair-setting appliance means of the present invention showing the relationship of the various parts of the appliance during one step of a hair-setting operation;

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 7 showing the relationship of the parts in a subsequent step of the hair-setting operation;

FIGURE 9 is an exploded, perspective view of yet another form of the present invention;

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of still another form of the present invention;

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of a hair-setting appliance similar to that shown in FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 12 is a perspective view of yet another form of the hair-setting appliance means of the present invention;

FIGURE 13 is an end view FIGURE 12 in position over step of a hair-setting operation;

FIGURE 14 is a perspective, exploded view of still another form of the present invention;

FIGURE 15 is an elevational view of a comb and neck pad combination of the present invention; and- FIGURE 16 is a cross-sectional view showing the device of FIGURE 15 in position on the head of a user of the device.

Referring again to the drawings, and particularly to cross-sectional view taken showing the appliance of a hair curler during one 3 FIGURES l-6, a hair-setting appliance means of the present invention, generally designated 10, includes a plurality of hair curlers 12, a neck pad 14, and a hair net 16, all of which are shown in position on the head 18 of a user 19 of the appliance means 10.

The curlers 12, which are shown somewhat schematically in FIGURE 2, are shown in detail in FIGURES 3-6 as comprising a hollow, cylindrical roller 20 upon which a strip of hair 22 may be rolled to form a coil 24 closely adjacent the head 18. A somewhat semi-cylindrical clamp member 26 may be employed to maintain the coil 24 in position on roller 20 by inserting the roller 20 and coil 24 through an opening 28 provided in the side wall 30 with the clamp 26. The comb 32 lessens the pressure be experienced by the user 19 of the curler 20 upon retiring is minimized by providing a suitable support means, such as a comb 32, which is formed integrally with the clamp 26. The comb 32 lessens the pressure which would ordinarily be exerted on the head 18 by roller 20 due to the narrow line-contact it makes with the head 18 in the absence of the support means. This narrow line-contact concentrates all the forces exerted on the head 18 when the user 19 reclines in a relatively narrow area underlying the roller 20. The comb 32 not only distributes this force or load over a major portion of the area of the head 18 which underlies roller 20, but also distributes it beyond the area underlying the roller 20 through a plurality of individual teeth 34 which are long enough to overlap the rear edge 36 of a superjacent comb 32, as shown in FIGURE 2. Each comb 32, as well as its individual teeth 34, is somewhat arcuate so that the comb 34 will conform to the natural curvature of the head 18, as shown in FIGURES and 6 so that the load exerted by the roller 20 is distributed uniformly over the head 18. Although the maximum benefit of the present invention may be obtained by overlapping the teeth 34, as shown in FIGURE 2, it has been found that the combs 32 will satisfactorily distribute the load exerted by rollers 20 when shorter teeth which do not overlap are used. The major axes of the teeth 34 he at right angles to the major axis of the roller 20 when the comb 32 is in position under the roller 20 on the head 18.

Although the combs 32 constitute one satisfactory means of lessening the pressure exerted by the roller 20 and other hair-setting appliances, the neck pad 14 constitutes another pressure lessening means which may be used in conjunction with the comb 32 or without the combs 32 if desired. The neck pad 14 is preferably made of a resilient material, such as foam rubber, and substantially encompasses the nape 40 of the neck 42 of the user 19. The neck pad 14 may be maintained in position on the neck 42 by the hair net 16. Alternatively, the neck pad 14 may be used without the hair net 16 by employing separate ribbons 44 to maintain the neck pad 14 in position on the neck 42. The hair net 16 further lessens the pressure exerted on the head 18 by the rollers 20 by maintaining them in uniform engagement with their associated combs 32. In addition, when combs are employed which are not integrally connected to the roller 20, the hair net 16 maintains them in position under their associated rollers 20.

The curler 20 is shown in FIGURES 7 and 8 in combination with a modified clamp 26a and comb assembly 32a which differ from hte clamp 26 and comb 32 in that the opening 28 overlies the comb 32a when the clamp 26a is in position on head 18. This is accomplished by connecting the comb 32d to the clamp 26a by a hinge 50 which may be formed along side wall 30a by tapering portions of the side wall 30a over the entire width thereof to a thin linear cross-section.

FIGURE 9 shows another modified form of pressure lessening means constituting a comb 32b having teeth 34b whose major axes lie at right angles to the major axis of a roller (not shown) when the comb 32b is in position thereunder. The comb 32b and the teeth 34b take substantially the same arcuate shape as the comb 32 and its associated teeth 34 to facilitate uniformly distributing the load exerted on the head of a user of a roller, such as the roller 20 shown in FIGURE 7. The comb 32b includes a pair of clips 52 which are adapted to engage the lip 54 on a conventional clamp 26b which may be used in combination with a conventional roller.

FIGURE 10 discloses a pressure lessening means in the form of a comb 320 having teeth 34c. The comb 320 may be used as a support means for a roller 20 without using auxiliary means such as clamps or clips to secure the comb 320 to the roller 20. This is accomplished by forming a trough 56 on the comb 32c for cradling the roller 20. Thus, the force which would ordinarily be exerted by the narrow line-contact of roller 20 on the head of a user of the roller 20 alone is uniformly distributed along trough 56 and spread over a major portion of the area of the head which underlies the roller 20.

Yet another modified form of pressure lessening means is shown in FIGURE 11 in the form of a comb 32d having teeth 34d. The comb 32d is substantially similar to the comb 32c except that the trough 56 is replaced with a bracket 56d which is engageable with a roller 20 to retain the comb 32d in position on the head of a user of the comb 32d. Conventional bobby pins 58 may be employed to physically connect the bracket 56d to the roller 20, if desired. When the comb 32d is in position on the head of a user, the major axes of the teeth 34d will extend at right angles to the major axis of the roller 20.

FIGURES 12 and 13 show yet another modified form of a pressure lessening means comprising a clamp 26e having first and second arcuate wall members 60 and 62 which are joined together by a hinge means 64 comprising a linear section of reduced thickness. The arcuate members 60 and 62 each carry a plurality of teeth 34e having their major axes lying at right angles to the major axis of the roller 20 when the clamp 26e is clamped therearound. A pair of pins 66 is provided on each end of the clamp 262 and engaged by a suitable elastic band 68 which biases the members 60 and 62 into firm engagement about the roller 20. The clamp 26e is placed in position about the roller 20 by opening it, as shown in FIGURE 13, and then bringing the members 60 and 62 toward each other to the position shown in FIGURE 12. The teeth 34e'are somewhat arcuate shaped so that they will conform substantially to the curvature of the head of a user of the clamp 26e to uniformly distribute the load exerted by the roller 20.

FIGURE 14 shows a pressure lessening means comprising a pair of combs 32 A comb 32 is slid under each end of a roller 20 to distribute the load exerted thereby on the head of a user of the roller 20. Each comb 32 includes teeth 34 having their major axes arranged in such a manner that they lie parallel to the major axis of the roller 20 when the combs 32 are in position thereunder. The teeth 54 extend from arcuate end pieces 70 which cradle the roller 20 when the combs are in position thereunder. The combs 32) also include a suitable clip 72 which is engageable with the roller 20 to maintain a coil of hair in position thereon and to retain the comb 323 in position under the roller 20.

FIGURES 15 and 16 show yet another form of support means wherein a neck pad 14g is combined with a comb 32g. The comb 32g includes a plurality of teeth 34g which con-form substantially to the shape of the back of the head 18 of a user of the comb 32g. The comb 32g is adapted to underlie a plurality of rollers 20 with the major axes of the teeth 34g lying at right angles to the major axes of the rollers 29. The neck pad 14g is substantially similar in shape to the neck pad 14 shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 and engages the nape 41) of the neck 42 of the user 19. The neck pad 14g includes an arcuate channel 74 in which the ends 76 of the teeth 34g may be secured. The neck pad 14g reduces the load exerted by rollers 20 on head 18 and the teeth 34g uniformly distribute this reduced load over the back of the head 18.

The method of the present invention comprises rolling a strip 22 about a curler 20 to form a curl 24 which is retained in position on the roller 20 by suitable clip means. A suitable support means, such as any of the embodiments disclosed in FIGURES 1-16, is then placed in position under each individual roller 20 to uniformly distribute the load exerted by the roller 20 over a major portion of the head 18 which underlies the roller 20.

While the particular hair setting appliance means herein shown and described in detail are fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that they are merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design steps herein shown and described other than as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A hair setting appliance comprising:

a device including a plurality of rollers for rolling a strip of hair of the user of said appliance into a coil positionable closely adjacent the head of said user, at least two of said rollers being arranged in side-byside relationship on said head with the major axis of one roller lying adjacent and substantially parallel to the major axis of another roller; and

means engageable with each of said rollers to distribute the load exerted on said head by said rollers and to maintain said coils in contact with said rollers including an individual hollow, semi-cylindrical clamp member snapped over an associated roller in substantial encompassing relationship and an individual comb extending from each clamp member, said combs being positionable between an associated roller and said head when an associated clamp member is in position on said associated roller, each of said combs being arcuate along both its major axis and its minor axis for conforming said combs to the shape of said head.

2. The appliance of claim 1 wherein each of said combs has a plurality of teeth having major axes lying at right angles to the major axis of an associated roller when an associated comb is in position under an associated roller, said teeth being of sufiicient length to extend from one of said rollers to an adjacent roller, whereby said combs may be arranged in overlapping relationship.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,300,437 11/ 1942 Solomon 13238 2,604,101 7/1952 Helfgott 132-39 XR 2,996,724 8/1961 Rose et a1. 13249 XR 3,035,279 5/1962 Stead 132-9 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 947,830 8/1956 Germany.

L. W. TRAPP, Primary Examiner. 

1. A HAIR SETTING APPLIANCE COMPRISING: A DEVICE INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF ROLLERS FOR ROLLING A STRIP OF HAIR OF THE USER OF SAID APPLIANCE INTO A COIL POSITIONABLE CLOSELY ADJACENT THE HEAD OF SAID USER, AT LEAST TWO OF SAID ROLLERS BEING ARRANGED IN SIDE-BYSIDE RELATIONSHIP ON SAID HEAD WITH THE MAJOR AXIS OF ONE ROLLER LYING ADJACENT AND SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE MAJOR AXIS OF ANOTHER ROLLER; AND MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH EACH OF SAID ROLLERS TO DISTRIBUTE THE LOAD EXERTED ON SAID HEAD BY SAID ROLLERS AND TO MAINTAIN SAID COILS IN CONTACT WITH SAID ROLLERS INCLUDING AN INDIVIDUAL HOLLOW, SEMI-CYLINDRICAL CLAMP MEMBER SNAPPED OVER AN ASSOCIATED ROLLER IN SUBSTANTIAL ENCOMPASSING RELATIONSHIP AND AN INDIVIDUAL COMB EXTENDING FROM EACH CLAMP MEMBER, SAID COMBS BEING POSITIONABLE BETWEEN AN ASSOCIATED ROLLER AND SAID HEAD WHEN AN ASSOCIATED CLAMP MEMBER IS IN POSITION ON SAID ASSOCIATED ROLLER, EACH OF SAID COMBS BEING ARCUATE ALONG BOTH ITS MAJOR AXIS AND ITS MINOR AXIS FOR CONFORMING SAID COMBS TO THE SHAPE OF SAID HEAD. 